The Clutter Fairy Weekly #170
What Are Your Clutter Set Points, and How Can You Change Them?
The clutter set point is what we call the volume of stuff—in total or in any one category—that feels like the “right” amount to you. When you go beyond this threshold, you may find that systems break down, negative feelings arise, and stuff morphs into clutter. Your set points can change over time, and you are the ultimate authority on what you choose to keep. In episode #170 of The Clutter Fairy Weekly, Gayle Goddard, professional organizer and owner of The Clutter Fairy in Houston, Texas, talks about how we arrive at clutter set points and how we can change them.
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The Weekly Tittle is an exercise designed to focus your attention on a specific space, aspect, or challenge of decluttering and organizing your home. We assign a new tittle in each webcast/podcast, then check on your progress the following week.
Volume Control
This week’s assignment is to evaluate the current set point for one category of stuff in your life:
- Identify a collection or category of stuff that frequently causes clutter in your home.
- Assess the storage space you’ve allocated to the category or collection. How tightly does it fill or exceed the main storage space you’ve assigned it? Do you keep some items in secondary storage locations in the house or elsewhere? Does this category of stuff tend to show up as clutter in random locations or on the floor?
- Think about how and when you use, consume, or enjoy this collection or category of stuff. How essential is it to the functioning and enjoyment of your life right now?
- Now consider whether the space you’ve allocated for this collection reflects how important it is to you. Ask yourself: Does this stuff earn the space it takes up, or has it grown to take up more room than it deserves?
- If you arrive at the conclusion that your set point for this category or collection has outgrown its importance to you, decide how much would be a more reasonable volume to keep. This step is a project in itself that may take several sessions of work, so we encourage you to make a few notes and revisit this tittle as many times as necessary until you’re satisfied with your answer.
For the full discussion of this week’s tittle, watch the Weekly Tittle segment on YouTube.
Term stated “set point” appreciated much better than “container” awaked at least to me the point of power in decision of stuff is my responsibility of when enough is enough stirring of when and how to tackle other spaces with clutter fairy ideas shared.
Plastics. Misc. to single-use! Yogurt tubs to food trays to those little clippie-things = FREQUENT cause OF the most non-essential clutter in my home
nor adding organic grace to the functioning in my life.
Exceeding my counters, drawers, floor space/bins…. As I then stick same plastics into or on random locations for after I consume the food or use-up the product, the delivery receptacles just sit there.
Claiming back my space had lost its importance emotionally to me.
Responsibly recyclizing/upcycling or trashing all had not been lost to me.
This is why I am struggling with my current set point for I no longer support the time or energy or loss of MY space.
My set point for this clutter of plastics has definitely reached its end.
With this Tittle #171 and the homework steps provided, I’ve definitely outgrown its importance.
I am now challenging myself a test-trial of creating “clutter compost”.
My first step is multi layered: Using light-weight bin,
Cut various plastics into mini pieces, spray vinegar to deny bugs/odors, rake in organic potting soil, layer cardboard/bamboo to feed my new pets = cluster of red worms.
Stay tuned as these steps evolve for I intend to share my success along with seeking to find MY new set point of faithfully reducing my clutter of plastics!
Thank you Gayle, Ed and all for this amazing idea!